Brad Jones does have promise at MLB. Last season was the best I've ever seen from him. 56 Tackles. 2 sacks. 4 PD. 1 FF.

But, those numbers do not correlate to the contract he was given. That's what I do not get. He's going to have to seriously raise his game to earn that. He played the middle last year, and TEs caught passes on us over the middle like crazy last season. With his measureables, he should be good in coverage, 6-3 230 - though I didn't see incredible coverage skills to warrant that kind of contract. Maybe he makes some picks this year.

Hawk's 2010 season might be a good barometer, as his play at MLB was solid. 111 Tackles, 10 PDs, 3 INTs, 0.5 sacks.

Bishop's 2010 was good too. 71 Tackles, 8 PDs, 1 INT, 3 sacks, 2 FFs.

Since their numbers compare, what does that say about the contract Bishop got? He hasn't lived up to what he got.

I think all they need to do is to cut Jones lose this year on defense. At OLB he was opposite matthews, which tended to be more of a play it safe position. Don't let them escape from clay your way. He should be better getting off blocks than Bishop with his pass rush experience, he is bigger and faster, which should help in tackling and coverage. And when they drop to 3LBers in pass downs, it actually gives them extra flexibility. If they want, they can rush Jones while shifting Clay and Perry around the line more.

And having Hawk in on run downs to protect against the big cut back, while Jones attacks the run play. I think they also need to conceed that Hawk will just be a running down LBer, and have him put some weight back on, right around 250. I think Jones has room to put some size on also.

If Hawk wouldn't have to be pulled o ff the field on third down, he would have never been asked to take a paycut. I'm linebacker envious of the 49er's. I love Matthews, but we have considerable dropoff after that.

"In February, McCarthy and Dom Capers, his defensive coordinator, had an extensive conversation about how to improve what had been a lousy defense. They looked at playing-time totals for players from scrimmage and on special teams, and neither liked what they saw."

"Together, they reached the conclusion that too many players had played too many snaps before their most important game of the season against New York."

"Using playing time from the regular season only, official league statistics reveal that 10 members of the defense played more than 800 snaps from scrimmage and on special teams in 2011.

"McCarthy said Hawk was a better performer playing 65% of the defensive snaps, as he is this year, than playing 80%, as he did last year."

When the team's research people bring McCarthy the playing-time sheets now, he has to be pleased. At position after position, the burden and the hits are being shared, exactly as he hoped they would

General manager Ted Thompson clearly was on board with McCarthy's diagnosis. One reason he selected defensive players with his first six draft choices was to give the coaches the manpower to implement their plan.

"That's why we got those young guys," said McCarthy. "Coming out of training camp I felt like, hey, we might not be starting the season the way we really wanted. But we felt we had to get those guys ready because we wanted to get better at the end of the season."

Since their numbers compare, what does that say about the contract Bishop got? He hasn't lived up to what he got.

I think all they need to do is to cut Jones lose this year on defense. At OLB he was opposite matthews, which tended to be more of a play it safe position. Don't let them escape from clay your way. He should be better getting off blocks than Bishop with his pass rush experience, he is bigger and faster, which should help in tackling and coverage. And when they drop to 3LBers in pass downs, it actually gives them extra flexibility. If they want, they can rush Jones while shifting Clay and Perry around the line more.

And having Hawk in on run downs to protect against the big cut back, while Jones attacks the run play. I think they also need to conceed that Hawk will just be a running down LBer, and have him put some weight back on, right around 250. I think Jones has room to put some size on also.

Bishop's another run stuffer. With him and Hawk, that's two run stuffers side by side. In a pass happy league.

“Winning is not a sometime thing, it is an all the time thing. You don't do things right once in a while…you do them right all the time.”

"In February, McCarthy and Dom Capers, his defensive coordinator, had an extensive conversation about how to improve what had been a lousy defense. They looked at playing-time totals for players from scrimmage and on special teams, and neither liked what they saw."

"Together, they reached the conclusion that too many players had played too many snaps before their most important game of the season against New York."

"Using playing time from the regular season only, official league statistics reveal that 10 members of the defense played more than 800 snaps from scrimmage and on special teams in 2011.

"McCarthy said Hawk was a better performer playing 65% of the defensive snaps, as he is this year, than playing 80%, as he did last year."

When the team's research people bring McCarthy the playing-time sheets now, he has to be pleased. At position after position, the burden and the hits are being shared, exactly as he hoped they would

General manager Ted Thompson clearly was on board with McCarthy's diagnosis. One reason he selected defensive players with his first six draft choices was to give the coaches the manpower to implement their plan.

"That's why we got those young guys," said McCarthy. "Coming out of training camp I felt like, hey, we might not be starting the season the way we really wanted. But we felt we had to get those guys ready because we wanted to get better at the end of the season."

Since their numbers compare, what does that say about the contract Bishop got? He hasn't lived up to what he got.

I think all they need to do is to cut Jones lose this year on defense. At OLB he was opposite matthews, which tended to be more of a play it safe position. Don't let them escape from clay your way. He should be better getting off blocks than Bishop with his pass rush experience, he is bigger and faster, which should help in tackling and coverage. And when they drop to 3LBers in pass downs, it actually gives them extra flexibility. If they want, they can rush Jones while shifting Clay and Perry around the line more.

And having Hawk in on run downs to protect against the big cut back, while Jones attacks the run play. I think they also need to conceed that Hawk will just be a running down LBer, and have him put some weight back on, right around 250. I think Jones has room to put some size on also.

Hey PackFanWithTwins,

Jones seems to have the potential to be close in comparison to Bishop, but I don't think he is there yet. Bishop is the more complete player IMO, with a better nose for the ball. He forces more turnovers, and does a better job of getting to the QB. He's also a better tackler, with 77 and 90 tackles in 12 and 13 starts in 2010/2011.

Losing Desmond Bishop really hurt us last season, and I was happy with Jones' improvement in stepping in for him.

Hawk was great in coverage two seasons ago, and I hope he can get back to that. I'm excited about Manning adding to the competition in the middle too.

If we add another ILB in the draft, the landscape here could change quite a bit, especially if Manning comes through.

I'm not sure what your point is Buckeye. Are you trying to say that Hawk is great in coverage?

Buckeye never has a point. He takes fluff media articles and rough statistics as evidence and proof. Green Bay lost its coverage linebacker in Brandon Chillar and have been looking for that guy and found him in Brad Jones, which is why he got his contract. To add fuel to the fire, we lost Nick Collins and have been waiting for a young guy to emerge in the secondary.

AJ Hawk's starting position is ripe for the pickings, and I fully expect him to play his ass off this year. I'd love to see him start playing down hill and make more impact plays, but that dog doesn't seem to hunt. Maybe he's being shackled and forced to be a read and react linebacker, but I don't ever want to see him trailing a fast tight by 2 yards again. Unless he's blitzing - he needs to be off the field on third down cause he just does not have the speed to compete with the evolving tight end.

Buckeye never has a point. He takes fluff media articles and rough statistics as evidence and proof. Green Bay lost its coverage linebacker in Brandon Chillar and have been looking for that guy and found him in Brad Jones, which is why he got his contract. To add fuel to the fire, we lost Nick Collins and have been waiting for a young guy to emerge in the secondary.

AJ Hawk's starting position is ripe for the pickings, and I fully expect him to play his ass off this year. I'd love to see him start playing down hill and make more impact plays, but that dog doesn't seem to hunt. Maybe he's being shackled and forced to be a read and react linebacker, but I don't ever want to see him trailing a fast tight by 2 yards again. Unless he's blitzing - he needs to be off the field on third down cause he just does not have the speed to compete with the evolving tight end.

Rough statistics? The only stats I ever post are the ones off of The Packers Home website.Hmmmmm...I guess they are posting false stats, well you certainly can't trust them.

Fluff media article?hmmmmm.......Again that article from packers.com, I posted the link so the whole story could be read....AGAIN, since it was published and posted on packerhome.com in January.

So I guess my options are to believe an article from Packers.com with quotes from The HC, and The GM, or believe your yearly unfounded rants and ramblings about A.J. Hawk among others.

I guess if I choose to believe you, that would mean Ted, Mike and pretty much the whole Packer organization is lying to it's fan base.

I have no clue why A.J. Hawk restructured his contract?According to you he was not a man that had "that type of character". Who was WRONG again?

AJ's starting position is ripe for the pickings? What a prediction from you, the same one for the last 4 years!!!!

As with #80, #25, and others sooner or later you will be right, but that is after you have been WRONG many more times.

You've made your agenda pretty clear here, there are certain players who you will rag on and find fault with until they are gone.

It's just real tiresome to read the same old crap year after year.

I choose to let Ted, Mike, and Co. make the decisions on who and when they play. I choose to support any player who makes the 53 man lineup.

May I suggest that if you don't like the players on the field, then your problem shouldn't be with the player, it should be with Ted Thompson, Mike McCarthy, and the rest of The Packers organization, they are the ones who decide who gets the chance to play for The Green bay Packers, and how much they get paid.

Now go back to [horse] [horse] [horse] [horse] [horse] .

Enjoy the ride – It kicks and just keeps on kickin’. "Stats are for Losers"

I have personally never watched Hawk be "great" in coverage, regardless of what the statistics may show for 2010. I suppose we have all opinions, though.

I remember A.J. Hawk picking off a pass deep down the middle of the field while covering a TE in the end zone.

"I do not think there is any thrill that can go through the human heart like that felt by the inventor as he sees some creation of the brain unfolding to success... such emotions make a man forget food, sleep, friends, love, everything." - Nikola Tesla

I remember most of his interceptions, as well. My point/opinion remains though, that I've never considered him "great" in pass coverage. Not even close.

I often wonder what people expect? I would say 90% of the passes I have seen completed against AJ, there was nothing he could do, nothing anybody else could do either. He is normally right on them and makes the tackle immediately. He could hold or get an PI.

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